Disability resources

Cal State L.A.’s 11+ acres of athletic facilities were recently named the Billie Jean King Sports Complex, in honor of King’s legacy as an alumna and University ambassador, and as a cham-pion—in tennis, social equity, and support of student athletes. The sports complex—which was approved by the CSU Board of Trustees Sept. 21—encompasses the Eagles Nest Gymnasium, the University Stadium, Jesse Owens Track and Field, Reeder Field (baseball), the swimming pool, and tennis and basketball courts. For details: www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/spotlight/ar-chive/2010/BJKSportsComplex.php.

Billie Jean King Sports Complex named Centeno honored as outstanding staff

Gonzalo Centeno, disability management specialist for the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), was recently presented with Cal State L.A.’s 2010 Outstanding Staff Award.

Described as the “heart” of the OSD, Centeno has been a staff member for more than 15 years. A colleague said, “[Gonzalo] has contributed significantly to the success of countless students with physical andvisual impairments as well as other functionaldisabilities.”

Despite having to use a wheelchair sincesuffering a broken neck and a spinal cordinjury from a pool accident in 1979, Centeno—with his “sunny personality” and “optimisticoutlook on life”—became actively involved with the disability rights movement.

Centeno explained, “I hope that by sharingmy experience with our students that they can learn to advocate for themselves and to be empowered to become contributing members of society.”

For a more detailed article, including alist of employees recognized for 10 to 40 years of service, go to www.calstatela.edu/UniversityReports.

University Reports is published three times a year by the Office of Public Affairs. E-mail material to margiey@cslanet.calstatela.edu. For guidelines, go to www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/ur/urform.htm. (Call ext. 3047 if you have no access to the web.) Copy for the Winter 2011 issue (vol. 41, no. 2) should be received in the Office of Public Affairs by Friday, Dec. 31, 2010.

Executive editor—Nancy Miron Managing editor—Paul Browning Editor—Margie Oi Low Photographer—Bernard Kane Layout—Yuri Watanabe Printing—Printing Center

For expanded stories, faculty achievement listings andmore, go to www.calstatela.edu/UniversityReports.

StateCal

SA bolsters resources In a concerted effort to increase efficiency,

the Division of Student Affairs (SA) has com-bined the offices of Admissions, Outreach and Recruitment, and Orientation, folding them into the Office of Admissions and Recruit-ment. This new unit is responsible for all facetsof recruitment, undergraduate admissions and graduate applicant evaluations and forfamiliarizing incoming students with the University and its resources. It is aimed atstrategically aligning enrollment managementefforts and enhancing the student experiencethrough improved collaboration among the critical student service delivery systems thatcomprise recruitment, admissions and orientation.

“The merger has enabled us to develop some creative partnerships between the offices,” said Vincent Lopez, director of the new unit, “which translates to a more efficient and smoother transition for new students entering Cal State L.A.”

Funding sources for campus constructionWith deep slashes to the CSU budget, many

within the campus community have questionsas to how construction projects are funded.

The following projects are not funded by student fees or the same source as salaries and benefits, and the funds must be used exactly as originally designated.

Wing B, Wallis Annenberg Integrated Sciences Complex: The 94,000-square-foot building, featuring wet laboratories, a lecture hall and offices, is nearing completion. Funding: State Revenue Bond, supplemented with private fundraising.

Public Safety: Interior and exterior finishesare being completed and furnishings installed,with occupancy targeted for Jan. 2011. Funding:State Revenue Bonds and parking reserve funds.

Television, Film and Media Studies Center: The campus acquired two parcels

of land from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. With signage installed, the two-story building and parking structure are undergoing seismic and accessibility upgrades. Funding: University Auxiliary Services –arranged financing.

Sustainable Hydrogen Production and Dispensing Facility: The station, located across from Lot 10 on Circle Drive, has broken ground with construction in progress. Funding: donor support – www.calstatela.edu/faculty/vseaman/Hydrogen_Station.php.

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts: Located north of the Music building between Parking Structure C and Housing, the school building is to be a shared facility with Cal State L.A. Groundbreaking is set for Jan. 2011. Funding: L.A. County Office of Education.

Disability resourcesAlternative Media Production Center:www.calstatela.edu/univ/osd/ampc.php

TRIO Student Support Program:www.calstatela.edu/univ/osd/dss.php

WAIV Employment Program:www.calstatela.edu/univ/osd/waiv.php

Accessible Technology & Learning Center:www.calstatela.edu/univ/osd/atlc.php

Kimberly Clapp was appointed director of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), effective March 24, 2010. Clapp provides leadership and direction for a comprehensive offering of academic support services and accommodations mandated by state and federal law and designed to assure the retention and graduation of disabled students. Clapp comes from the Art Institute of California where she served as the disability services coordinator. A CSULA alumna, she is also a certified rehabilitation counselor.

Rebecca Hopkins was appointed director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), effective Aug. 1, 2009. Hopkins provides overall leadership and direction for the strategic implementation of programs and services designed to significantly improve the retention and graduation of first generation, economically or educationally disadvantaged students. Hopkins was associate director of EOP for almost 10 years and was formerly an EOP counselor.

Monica Jazzabi, M.D., was appointed director of the Student Health Center, effective Feb. 2, 2010. Dr. Jazzabi provides medical and administrative leadership to the Student Health Center operation, including coordination of the Center’s medical, pharmaceutical, mental health and health education units as a part of comprehensive student health care program. Previously, Dr. Jazzabi served as a primary care physician for student health care needs, providing leadership in the development of important preventative health care initiatives.

Vince Lopez was appointed director of Admissions and Recruitment, effective May 3, 2010. In this capacity, Lopez is responsible for all aspects of the University’s admissions, outreach, recruitment and orientation programs, providing the gateway to the University for the majority of students. He also oversees several core components of the University’s enrollment management structure. Prior to this appointment, Lopez served as director of Outreach and Recruitment and as a recruiter with more than 20 years in university outreach and student recruitment.

Student Affairs introduces leadership team

Campus to ‘sow’ the seeds of reading

Quick Clicks

Editorial Style Guide: www.calstatela.edu/style

Web templates: www.calstatela.edu/univ/templates

Emergency text messages: www.calstatela.edu/univ/police/ens.php

Honors College: www.calstatela.edu/academic/honorscollege

Cal State L.A. online application: www.csumentor.edu

Semester Conversion: nss-nemo.calstatela.edu/semester

CSU Budget Central:blogs.calstate.edu/budgetcentral

Cal State L.A. TODAY: www.calstatela.edu/today

President’s News & Info: www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/presidentnewsInfo_9-2010.html

L-r: Vince Lopez, Kimberly Clapp, Monica Jazzabi, and Rebecca Hopkins.

Cal State L.A.’s 2010-11 “One Campus, One Book” featured novel is Octavia Estelle Butler’s science fiction thriller Parable of the Sower, which was nominated for the 1994 Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Set in Southern California in the year 2024,the book centers on a young woman who possesses the ability to feel the perceived pain and pleasures of others. When the society is near collapse, she survives by developing “a religious community or a new social order.”

A CSULA alumna, Butler was recognized as “the first African-American woman to gainpopularity and critical acclaim as a major science fiction writer.” Butler garnered severalawards for her writing, including a 1984 HugoAward for her short story, “Speech Sounds,” and a 1985 Hugo for her novella Bloodchild, which also won the 1984 Nebula Award. In 1995, she received a five-year $295,000 MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. Butler passed away in 2006.

For more details, visit calstatela.libguides.com/OCOB.

Ashish Vaidya, professor of economics and dean of the faculty at CSU Channel Islands, was named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective Oct. 1.

Vaidya had roots on campus in the College of Business and Economics prior to joining CSUCI. During his tenure at Cal State L.A., he served as a professor of economics. He began assuming administrative responsibilities first as the director of the MBA program from 1997 to 2001 and, subsequently, as the associate chair of the Department of Economics and Statistics.

Vaidya began his faculty career in 1991 atCal State L.A. after completing his doctorateat UC Davis. His fields of specialization areinternational trade, applied microeconomicsand development economics.

“Dr. Vaidya has a reputation for sound judgment and professionalism, as well as administrative and economic expertise that will serve Cal State L.A. well, especially as weall work to move forward in these unpredict-able budgetary times,” said President James M. Rosser.

The announcement of his appointment was featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal, Chronicle of Higher Education, and India West.

For a listing of campus events:

www.calstatela.edu/calendar

Campus welcomes Vaidya back as Provost CEaS granted core facility

A three-year, $1.7 million grant from theNational Science Foundation (NSF) has been awarded to the Center for Energy and Sustainability (CEaS) to create a core facility to boost research activities. Directed by Crist Khachikian (Civil Engineering), this multidisciplinary science and techno-logy research center was established in fall 2009 through a five-year, $5 million NSF Centers for Research Experience in Science and Technology (CREST) grant.Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, approximately 9,500 square feet of research space in the University’s Engineering and Technology building are set to be reconfigured.

HFPA gift for student fellowshipsThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association

(HFPA) has awarded a $50,000 gift for the Television and Media Studies Program.

The HFPA grant will support the recruit-ment and retention of CSULA students pursuing graduate degrees in the fields oftelevision and media studies, with fellowshipsof $1,000-$5,000 to be designated for directeducational expenses.

This fall, the program was granted depart-ment status, in order to better prepare stu-dents for the contemporary creative realitiesof artistic production. Under the auspices ofthe University’s College of Arts and Letters,it has been officially named the Department of Television, Film and Media Studies.

CIMEC explores ecosystem, climateCal State L.A. has been named a partner

of a new research institute established by theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-istration (NOAA) called the Cooperative Institute on Marine Ecosystems and Climate (CIMEC).

The Cal State L.A. team—Carlos Robles (Biological Sciences), Patrick Krug (Biological Sciences) and Hengchun Ye(Geological Sciences)—will conduct pro-jects exploring how predicted changes in sea surface salinity might affect latitudinal species distributions and alter the behavior of key predators in coastal communities. The work will be one component of a com-prehensive investigation of climate and its impacts on Pacific Ocean communities undertaken by the new NOAA consortium. The five-year, $55 million federally-funded CIMEC is based at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Professor honored for SAT programKern K. Kwong (Management) was

recently honored at the annual Asian YouthCenter (AYC) awards gala for his collabora-tive work in establishing The Shared Achieve-ment Team Program, a free math tutoringprogram for kids in the San Gabriel Valleycommunity. For details: www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/newsrel/kkwong-aycaward.htm.

Packard initiates science learningThrough a collaborative initiative with the

David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Charter College of Education is working to engage future teachers with elementary children in active, hands-on science activities in an afterschool program. The project will involve Cal State L.A. and nineother campuses working within the state to provide rich science-learning opportunities that incorporate reading and literacy develop-ment. This is in response to a recent study completed by the California Council on Science and Technology and the CSU Centerfor Teacher Equality.

Briefly...Steps to affordable learning

Due to the impact of the state budget, faculty are encouraged to consider the costs of textbooks when making decisions as to which books to adopt for their courses,without compromising the quality of the education CSULA students receive.

Here are easy steps to help hold down costs for students:

1. Submit your textbook orders to the University Bookstore on time. Under Academic Senate guidelines, the dead-

line for submitting textbook orders is seven weeks prior to the start of each quarter.

2. Consider e-textbooks or the textbook rental program for less costly instruc-

tional materials when possible. For details about e-textbook selections or the textbook rental program, go to www.calstate-la.bncollege.com.

3. Consult the CSU’s “Affordable Learning Solutions” site for no-cost or low-cost content for courses in many disciplines

at als.csuprojects.org/home.4. Avoid adopting texts that are “bundled” with supplementary products, unless

all of the components are required for your course.

International opportunities aboundFor faculty members interested in an

international learning experience: The CSU International Programs office is now accepting applications for paid resident directors to work and live in China, France, Italy, Japan or Spain for one academic year. Also, there are four Wang faculty stipends designated for research or teaching at four universities in Taiwan and China. Application deadline is Dec. 1. For details and application forms, go to www.calstate.edu/ip.

Forms, tips for off-campus eventsCampus personnel planning any

campus-related field trips or off-campus University-sponsored events are advised to complete general release forms. These new forms can be found at www.calstatela.edu/univ/ehs/rm_travel.php. University travel guidelines and “risk areas” warning are also listed.

As part of the annual Fall Faculty Day tradition, four CSULA faculty were presented the annual Outstanding Professor Awards and one named the President’s Distinguished Professor. This year, an inaugural Outstanding Lecturer Award was also presented.

President’s Distinguished ProfessorRobert Desharnais (Biological Sciences) brings an incredible

record of achievement as a teacher and mentor, a researcher, and a leader in faculty governance on campus. He has garnered more than $7 million in federal grants to support research, education and student training.

He is also a leader in integrating technology into the classroom to enhance teaching and learning. He is the founder and director of a Virtual Courseware Project, an award-winning website with several science education simulations designed for students and teachers.

To view Desharnais’ video interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx4BWi9mVF0.

Outstanding ProfessorsPresented with Outstanding Professor Awards were David N. Connors (Music/

Theatre Arts and Dance), an exemplary educator who co-authored content standardsfor music education; Diane S. Haager (Special Education and Counseling), a nationally-recognized expert in learning disabilities and reading instruction in educa-tion; Crist Khachikian (Civil Engineering), a specialist in environmental engineeringcommitted to involving students in research projects with global impact; and Ping Yao (History), an esteemed Chinese historian acknowledged for her research on women’s lives and religious experiences.

Outstanding LecturerThis year, Cal State L.A. established the Outstanding Lecturer Award. The first

recipient is Sheila Price (Philosophy), who began teaching at Cal State L.A. in fall 1964 and retired in June 2008, though she has continued to teach on a part-time basis.

For detailed profiles of these professors, go to www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/newsrel/OPA2010.htm.

Outstanding faculty honored

Pictured: (front row, l-r) CSULA faculty honorees Sheila Price, David Connors, Diane Haager, Robert Desharnais, Ping Yao and Crist Khachikian; and (back row, l-r) CSULA President James M. Rosser, Aca-demic Senate Chair Nancy Hunt, Academic Affairs VP Cheryl Ney, and Outstanding Professors Selection Committee Chair Lia Kamhi-Stein.

Doctoral student garners CSU Razi awardRobert (David) Black, a

student in the educational leadership doctoral program, has been honored as one of two 2010 CSU Trustee Ali C. Razi Scholars. The award, which included a $10,000 scholarship, was presented at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting.

Black came to California several years ago with a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University. While considering graduateprograms, Black’s eyesight began to fail,and after six operations, the end result wasblindness. Undaunted, Black was determined

to pursue his career in counseling and education.

“David is a role model for all of us in the program; both his fellow students and faculty. He helps us learn how best to assist him so that he can be an equal participant in class and in the doctoral program,” said Lois Andre-Bechely (Applied and Advanced Studies in Education).

For Black’s story, go to www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/newsrel/RaziHearst-dblack.htm or www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_16291356.

Federal funding supports STEM projects Cal State L.A. has recently received

more than $3.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to support 14 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects.

“ARRA funding helps our talented faculty generate new knowledge, supports student success through their participation in research and prepares future scientists and teachers,” said Director Philip LaPolt (Research and Development).

There is also one grant from the Department of Education of $213,372 for student-based work-study programs, and another $11,268 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to support nursing scholarships.

For details on the 14 grants awarded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services, go to www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/newsrel/ARRAfunding-CSULA.htm.

Honors...